LANDING GEAR | Modern aircrafts | Aircraft Brakes | Aircraft Wheels | Wings
All airplanes must have some type of landing gear. Modern aircraft employ brakes, wheels, and tires designed specifically for the demands of flight. Tires must be capable of going from a standstill to nearly 322 km/h (200 mph) at landing, as well as carrying nearly 454 metric tons. Brakes, often incorporating special heat-resistant materials, must be able to handle emergencies, such as a 400-metric-ton airliner aborting a takeoff at the last possible moment. Antiskid braking systems, common on automobiles today, were originally developed for aircraft and are used to gain maximum possible braking power on wet or icy runways. (LANDING GEAR, Modern aircrafts, Aircraft Brakes, Aircraft Wheels, Wings)
Larger and more complex aircraft typically have retractable landing gear—so called because they can be pulled up into the wing or fuselage after takeoff. Having retractable gear greatly reduces the drag generated by the wheel structures that would otherwise hang out in the airstream. (LANDING GEAR, Modern aircrafts, Aircraft Brakes, Aircraft Wheels, Wings)
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